Carpenter career
BLS occupation: Carpenters (47-2031). Updated September 27, 2026.
Pay
Carpenters in the U.S. earn a median of $60,580 a year, or $29.12 an hour, according to May 2025 BLS data.
What carpenters do
- Measure and mark cutting lines on materials, using a ruler, pencil, chalk, and marking gauge.
- Follow established safety rules and regulations and maintain a safe and clean environment.
- Shape or cut materials to specified measurements, using hand tools, machines, or power saws.
- Select and order lumber or other required materials.
- Install structures or fixtures, such as windows, frames, floorings, trim, or hardware, using carpenters' hand or power tools.
- Verify trueness of structure, using plumb bob and level.
- Arrange for subcontractors to deal with special areas, such as heating or electrical wiring work.
- Build or repair cabinets, doors, frameworks, floors, or other wooden fixtures used in buildings, using woodworking machines, carpenter's hand tools, or power tools.
The most important tasks, as rated by workers in the occupation. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Job outlook
BLS projects carpenter jobs will grow 3.9% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% for all U.S. jobs, with about 62,800 openings a year as people join, retire, and change careers.
- Jobs in 2025
- 889,700
- Projected for 2035
- 924,700
- Openings a year
- 62,800
- Self-employed
- 25.1%
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035. Job counts include self-employed workers.
Training
- Typical education to start
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience in a related job
- None
- Typical on-the-job training
- Apprenticeship
Source: BLS Employment Projections. Licensing rules vary by state; confirm with your state's licensing board.
Pay in your state
- Hawaii$85,280
- Illinois$79,000
- California$75,920
- Massachusetts$75,200
- Washington$74,190
- Alaska$73,860
- New York$72,330
- Minnesota$64,930
- Connecticut$64,060
- New Jersey$64,010
See all 50 states and DC
- Maryland$62,960
- Indiana$62,870
- Oregon$62,870
- Colorado$62,830
- Vermont$62,400
- Nevada$62,380
- Maine$62,160
- District of Columbia$61,710
- Michigan$61,680
- Wisconsin$61,660
- New Hampshire$61,200
- Missouri$60,840
- Rhode Island$60,840
- Ohio$60,810
- New Mexico$59,720
- Pennsylvania$59,370
- Delaware$59,200
- Montana$58,820
- Arizona$58,580
- North Dakota$57,890
- Iowa$57,710
- Kansas$56,960
- Wyoming$56,850
- Virginia$55,690
- Kentucky$52,680
- Utah$52,360
- Idaho$52,000
- Tennessee$50,830
- South Carolina$50,670
- Nebraska$50,320
- Louisiana$49,920
- Florida$49,870
- Georgia$49,350
- North Carolina$49,100
- Texas$48,900
- West Virginia$48,710
- Mississippi$48,650
- Alabama$48,220
- South Dakota$48,140
- Arkansas$47,760
- Oklahoma$46,910
Top-paying metro areas
Other trades
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Excludes self-employed carpenters.